Oli defends Gautam

By Leela Baral

BIRTAMOD, Jhapa, March 5: Standing Committee member of the Communist Party of Nepal Unified Marxist & Leninist (CPN-UML), KP Sharman Oli, today expressed strong dissatisfaction for taking disciplinary action against Bamdev Gautam, another Standing Committee member, by the party Disciplinary Inspection Committee for supporting Maoist demand of a constituent assembly.

"Taking action against a leader in case of any lapse on his part reminds the world of monkey," said Oli, addressing a meeting organised to mark 31st Martyrs Memorial Day in Sukhani.

Five communist leaders of Jhapa movement - Netra Ghimire, Ram Nath Dahal, Krishna Kuikel, Biren Rajbansi and Narayan Shrestha - were shot dead by then Panchayat regime in the jungle of Sukhani in the pretext of transferring them from Jhapa to Ilam jail in 2029 B.S.

He said that instead of mobilising its cadre force to bring back the executive power snatched away by the king, the party leadership has waged a campaign taking action against its own leaders.

Addressing the function, he cautioned that thousands of people would be killed and country’s sovereignty would be at stake in case of the upcoming peace talks derailed once again. He said UML’s role should be to prepare a ground for the success of the peace talks.

"It is inappropriate to take disciplinary action against any leader for his remarks when the seventh general convention of the party has kept all options open, including the constituent assembly, referendum and constitutional amendment," he said, adding that all the internal differences should be sorted out as per party statute.

Indirectly backing up Gautam’s views regarding the constituent assembly and roundtable meeting, Oli said that the party should be ready for popular movement rather than limiting itself only on putting demands to the king. He also warned that relevance of the CPN-UML would be finished if it failed to take bold steps in bringing about social changes.

He came down heavily on the "unconstitutional" Lokendra Bahadur Chand government, which "does not have popular mandate", for censuring mainstream political parties. Jeevan Ghimire, the widow of Netra Ghimire, said that nobody would become widow or orphan if peace prevailed in the country. CPN-UML observes March 5 as the Martyrs’ Memorial Day in memory of the slain leaders.

King’s intention was direct rule: Deuba

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MAHENDRANAGAR, Mar 5: Former prime minister and President of Nepali Congress (Democratic) Sher Bahadur Deuba today said that his government’s dismissal by the king on October 4 was driven by the ambition for a direct rule.

"The king has taken all the rights under the constitution in his hand after the dismissal of the government led by me on October 4," Deuba told reporters in the town. He said that what we are left with today is only the signboard of democracy, while real democracy has been lost and gone.

Saying that peace was the need of the hour, Deuba said he would not mind even if the king and Prachanda work out the same even if it is restricted between those two alone.

But the former prime minister said peace is the first priority of the moment.

Denying that there were any efforts concerning unification of the two Nepali Congresses, Deuba said, "Although there are no chances of the same, this could still be debated if Girija Prasad Koirala agrees to demand restoration of the government dissolved on October 4."

Deuba also said that Maoists, king and Koirala had ditched him. "What we need is peace. Who becomes successful is immaterial." If the Maoists back down this time around too, they will be in for their ruin, he said. "Maoist intimidation was still a reality despite cease-fire," Deuba referred to cases of abduction reported from Jogbuda of Dadeldhura district.

Speaker calls for House revival

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KATHMANDU, March 5: Speaker of House of Representatives Tara Nath Ranabhat today strongly called for the re-instatement of the dissolved House, arguing that the present rush towards round table conference and constituent assembly are "ominous for long-term peace and political stability."

"Peace and constituent assembly don’t gel. Neither do round table conference and long-term political stability," Ranabhat said at the Reporters’ Club. The Speaker also claimed that Maoist rebels would renew their struggle if their demands were not met.

"Take it from me, they have gauged the repercussions of what they were doing. They can’t go back to the jungle given the prevailing national and international scenario. Both US and UK are wielding tremendous pressure on them," he said.

But his strongest pleas came for the revival of the House which was dissolved last year in May. Ranabhat said that the resolution of the present crisis lay in the restoration of the House of Representatives and effecting whatever constitutional amendment is required to fulfil the political and constitutional agenda put forth by the Maoists.

The Speaker was replying to specific comments from Himalaya Shumsher Rana, a business leader who, as a member of civil society, has been playing a key role in bringing the Maoists and the government to sit for peace talks. While speaking at the programme earlier, Rana had urged a role for the monarch in any new constitution to deal with "unforeseen circumstances." Ranabhat replied that moves towards round table conference, constituent assembly and new constitution were all ominous.

The Speaker also voiced his discomfort at how the peace-process suddenly materialized and how it is being played out. He lamented the lack of transparency in the process, and cautioned that the people would someday seek answers from whoever was "orchestrating the process."

Earlier, Himalaya Shumsher Rana had urged political parties to join the government’s talk team to help the peace process along. The refusal of the parties to join in the talks was delaying the formation of a government talks’ team, he said.

Referring to the hardship surrounding announcement of code of conduct, Rana said that "the same ought to have been done before the cease-fire announcement but it couldn’t be done because things do not always fall in the right place."

Rana also said that the current scenario was the outcome of over-politicisation of the country’s politics after the restoration of democracy in 1990.

He said this while referring to the efforts, which came from certain members of civil society, including him, before the cease-fire was announced.

Earlier, lawyer Sindhunath Pyakurel said that since political and constitutional process have been arrested by the October 4 royal intervention, there was no other alternative but to go for a round table conference which alone could resolve the current constitutional imbroglio.

"There is remedy for every wrong committed by any one from Prime Minister downwards, but there is no such remedy in the current constitution if the constitutional monarch commits a mistake," Pyakurel said, adding that a bold political decision was the only way out of the current crisis.

Pyakurel argued that when erstwhile Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba recommended the monarch to postpone the elections, the king could have asked the prime minister to explore a way out or could have told him to refer the matter to the Supreme Court

Noted poet Madhav Prasad Ghimire earlier flayed the political parties for failing to take a tough decision at the opportune moment.

HM welcomes marriage procession

KATHMANDU, March 5 (RSS) - His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev welcomed as per Vedic traditions the procession of the marriage of HRH Princess Shitashma Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah, the second daughter of Her late Royal Highness Princess Prekshya Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah and late Dhirendra Shah with Avinesh Shah, the eldest son of Arjun Jung Shah and Asha Rajya Laxmi Shah when it arrived at Jeevan Kunj, Maharajgunj this afternoon.

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Paras Bir Bikram Shah Dev and other members of the Royal family were also present on the occasion. Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand was also present.

Appointments

KATHMANDU, March 5 (PR)- Ministry of Foreign Affairs has appointed Joint Secretary Dr. Ram Bhakta PB Thakur as the Chief of Protocol. The post of Chief of Protocol had fallen vacant after Bhagirath Basnet was appointed as Royal Nepalese ambassador to Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, RSS adds: His Majesty’s Government has appointed Suresh Kumar Pudasaini the chairperson and Krishna Bahadur Khatri the member of the Nepal Telecommunications Authority. This was decided by the meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Monday, according to the Ministry of Information and Communications.

Maoists refute US allegations

KATHMANDU, March 5 (PR)- The Maoist leadership has reacted strongly to a statement issued by a senior US State Department official linking them to the Khmer Rouge guerillas which terrorized Cambodia in the 1970s.

"We never had anything to do with the Khmer Rouge before October 4 or after that," a senior Maoist leader told The Kathmandu Post today. "The US statement trying to link us with the Khmer Rouge when the peace talks is in progress appears motivated and ill-intentioned."

The Maoist leader further added: "All those who want peace in Nepal should be careful about the hidden message the US statement carries."

The remarks were issued two days after Donald Camp, the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, issued a statement in Washington DC alleging Maoist sympathies with the Khmer Rouge guerrillas. Camp had said, "Recent Maoist statements defending the Khmer Rouge give one indication of the kind of instability and humanitarian catastrophe that might follow a takeover."

HIV test machine expensive, unused

By Perina Pathak

KATHMANDU, March 5: The arrival of the CD-4 Cell Count machine here around two months ago had raised the hopes of hundreds of people living with HIV. But the euphoria soon turned into disappointment as even now HIV positives are being forced to go to India, spend hefty sums at various pathology labs for regular check-ups.

The CD-4 Count machine is used to measure the viral load - the presence of human immune virus - in the blood samples of HIV positives undergoing Anti Retroviral (ARV) drug therapy. It is also used to ascertain the exact stage of an HIV positive.

Experts say the machine is immensely useful for the treatment of HIV positives.

Dr Shashi Sharma, Chairman of the HIV committee at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) says, "The machine is helpful to monitor the immune system and help decide if and when to take ARVs to prevent infections."

But the arrival of the machine has not helped much, because of the controversy over the charge fixed by the government, which, at Rs 7,000, is said to be three times higher than in India. Experts say that it costs around Rs 2,500.

"The check-up charge is costly because of the kit, which is very expensive," admit Dr Bal Krishna Subedi, Director of National Centre for AIDS and STD Control (NCASC). "We are doing the necessary home works to provide service at a cheaper price. But we can’t say for sure from when we will be able to begin the service."

The NCASS brought the CD-4 Cell Count machine around two months ago, bowing to intense pressures from People Living with HIV, doctors and counsellors. But unfortunately the machine is gathering dust at the Centre Health Laboratory at Teku.

And virtually nobody knows how much the government paid to bring in the expensive equipment.

The machine, which is not appropriate in the Nepalis context, was ordered by the previous government, said an official, requesting anonymity. "There must have been foul play in the procurement of the machine, which is not used even in neighbouring India," he said.

Most of the HIV positives go to Thairo Care, a Mumbai-based clinic, where they are referred by local pharmacies.

According to Dr Sharma, if CD-4 count is persistently below 500, the immune system is considered to be slightly weak and the patient is at a gradually increasing risk of infections. "And if it drops below 200 you are at increased risk".

"It is useful to have CD-4 count measured regularly by the HIV infected to monitor the immune system and help decide if and when to take anti-HIV drugs and begin treatments to prevent infections," said Dr Sharma. "Similarly it also helps monitor the effectiveness of any anti-HIV drugs the patient is taking."

It is impossible to treat without the machine, according to experts. "It helps to monitor the viral load and the stage when to use the drug, which is impossible without the machine," he added. In Nepal, HIV positives have not only been deprived of CD-4 Cell Count facility, but also deprived of the widely available ARV drug, that can drastically improve the health and extend their life span.

The price of ARV has decreased by 30 per cent in the international market but due to lack of a concrete government policy on the use of medicines, the HIV infected are forced to buy expensive medicines.

Around six months ago, a team of local doctors prepared a ‘National Drug Protocol’ for the HIV positives. "But the government is mum towards the protocol, though the protocol was submitted around two months ago," said Dr Sharma.

Experts say that every year the number of HIV infected is increasing. "The HIV infected is increasing every day," said Dr Sushil Shakya of Teku Hospital. "Around eight to ten infected come in at the last stage every month."

Whenever any such patient is detected in any hospitals, doctors refer them either to the TUTH or Teku Hospital, where doctors provide counselling service to the HIV infected.

Limited over games throw out unlimited thrills

By Suman Malla

KATHMANDU, March 5: The meandering preliminary round of the eighth Cricket World Cup got over. It had its quota of fascinating duels and topsy-turvy results.

Looking at the draw, it appeared that South Africa would have a cakewalk in Pool B.

Sri Lanka, New Zealand and West Indies were capable opponents but surely the South Africans would finish in the top three.

However, after the initial 40 matches are over, South Africa are nowhere to be seen.

After losing their opening game to West Indies and New Zealand, they were thrown a lifeline when West Indies had to share points with Bangladesh. And it was all building upto a tumultuous finish in Durban against Sri Lanka until the rains poured down. And misunderstanding over runs required under Duckworth/Lewis system saw the home team’s hopes drown in a sea of recrimination.

While it was a tough pill to swallow for local fans, the premature exit of other big guns West Indies, Pakistan and England created more World Cup headlines than any to have gone before.

West Indies, deprived of a win against Bangladesh by the rain, New Zealand’s refusal to play in Nairobi, in effect, led to their early exit.

It was all about individual achievements in Pakistani camp that served no team purpose. Wasim Akram achieved the landmark of claiming 500th one-day wicket, and Shoaib Akhtar unleashed the world’s fastest delivery that crossed the 100mph mark.

While they might blame floodlights and other conditions for their loss to England, they still have to find more convincing explanations for their capitulation to their bitter rivals India.

England’s refusal to play their match against Zimbabwe in Harare, and the ICC’s refusal to switch the venue, had a huge impact on the group. And the World Cup was over for both Pakistan and England after rains led to the abandonment of the crucial match between Pakistan and Zimbabwe. England captain Nasser Hussain simply could not bear all this and announced his retirement from one-day cricket.

Australians were the only team to climb up to the Super Six with an all-win record. India, after going down tamely to the Aussies, are coming to their grooves. While Sri Lanka, New Zealand hardly raised any eyebrows, Kenyans’ qualification to the Super Six certainly did.

It was Kenya’s upset win over the Sri Lankans in Nairobi, for the sheer joy on the Kenyan faces, that the sheer unpredictability of cricket came to the fore.

Again, some real gems. Lara’s hundred was not his greatest ever, but featured several shots of trademark genius. Symonds rescued Australia at the Wanderers and simultaneously revived his one-day career and broke the fragile spirit of the Pakistanis. Fleming’s hundred against South Africa comes close, as does Davison’s record-breaking 67-ball hundred against the West Indies; in the end, though, Sachin Tendulkar’s 98 against Pakistan confirmed that there has been no better batsman since Donald Bradman.

Sachin was an expected hero, though. The honour for unlikeliest star goes to portly Dutch all-rounder Feiko Kloppenburg, who stole the show by becoming only the fourth man in the history of one-day cricket to score a hundred and take four wickets as Netherlands consigned Namibia and their band of Burgers to the wooden spoon.

But the title should have gone to Bangladesh, who if not for the abandoned match failed to justify their Test status, going down to Canada and Kenya.

The bowling has been led by another under-rated seamer, Chaminda Vaas. Apart from his hat-trick against Canada, he has bowled with both fire and accuracy, not a regular combination in one day cricket.

There were enough incidents off the pitch as well. The England cricket team could not seem to put the Zimbabwe saga to bed. Chris Cairns got plenty of press for his nightclub antics, and an injured Jonty Rhodes brought a collective tear to the South African eye. However, hardly anything could match Shane Warne’s positive test for banned substance, and his comical attempt to defend himself and blame his mum afterwards.

But the entire league may have been meaningless because only the Super Six would have thrown light on which team will be holding the trophy and kissing the turf at the Wanderers on March 23. There will probably be as much of a thrill for those who predicted the winner.

‘Global water crisis will reach unprecedented levels’

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KATHMANDU, March 5: Nepal ranks 78th in water quality standards among 180 countries in the world, according to a United Nations study which was released worldwide today. Similarly, India ranks 120th, Bhutan 96th, China 84th, Pakistan 80th, Sri Lanka 64th and Bangladesh 40th.

The list of countries with the best quality is headed by Finland followed by Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Japan, Norway, Russian Federation, Republic of Korea, Sweden and France, according to the report.

The poorest in terms of water availability is Kuwait, followed by Gaza Strip, United Arab Emirates, Bahamas, Qatar, Maldives, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Malta, and Singapore. And the top ten water-rich countries - with the exception of Greenland and Alaska - are French Guiana, Iceland, Guyana, Suriname, Congo, Papua New Guinea, Gabon, Solomon Islands, Canada and New Zealand.

Faced with "inertia at the leadership level", the report warns the global water crisis will reach unprecedented levels in the years ahead with "growing per capita scarcity of water in many parts of the developing world". Water resources will steadily decline because of population growth, pollution and expected climate change, it adds.

"Of all the social and natural crises we humans face, the water crisis is the one that lies at the heart of our survival and that of our planet Earth," a statement issued by the UN quoted UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura, as saying. "No region will be spared from the impact of this crisis which touches every facet of life, from the health of children to the ability of nations to secure food for their citizens."

"Water supplies are falling while the demand is dramatically growing at an unsustainable rate. Over the next 20 years, the average per capita supply of water world-wide is expected to drop by a third."

Despite widely available evidence of the crisis, political commitment to reverse these trends has been lacking, the report points out. "A string of international conferences over the past 25 years has focused on the great variety of water issues including ways to provide the basic water supply and sanitation services required in the years to come."

By the middle of this century, at worst seven billion people in 60 countries will be faced with water scarcity, at best 2 billion in 48 countries, depending on factors like population growth and policy-making, it says.

Climate change will account for an estimated 20 percent of this increase in global water scarcity, according to the report. "Humid areas will probably see more rain, while it is expected to decrease and become more erratic in many drought-prone regions and even some tropical and sub-tropical regions. Water quality will worsen with rising pollution levels and water temperatures."

According to calculations in the report, there is an estimated 12,000 cubic kilometres of polluted water worldwide, which is more than the total amount contained in the world’s ten largest river basins.

"Therefore, if pollution keeps pace with population growth, the world will effectively lose 18,000 kilometres cube of freshwater by 2050 - almost nine times the total amount countries currently use each year for irrigation, which is by far the largest consumer of the resource. Irrigation currently accounts for 70 percent of all water withdrawals worldwide, according to the report.

The World Water Development Report - Water for People, Water for Life - is the most comprehensive, up-to-date overview of the state of the resource. Presented on the eve of the Third World Water Forum, scheduled to be held in Kyoto, Japan, from March 16 to 23, it represents the single most important intellectual contribution to the Forum and the International Year of Freshwater marked throughout 2003 that is being led by UNESCO and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

According to the statement, to compile the report, every UN agency and commission dealing with water has for the first time worked jointly to monitor progress against water-related targets in such fields as health, food, ecosystems, cities, industry, energy, risk management, economic evaluation, resource sharing and governance. The 23 UN partners constitute the World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP), whose secretariat is hosted by UNESCO.

The report will be formally presented to the international community on World Water Day, March 22 during World Water Forum in Kyoto.

Panche baja finds place in world famous museum

By Khim Ghale

KATHMANDU, March 5: Whether it is marriage time or a festival, the offering of Pancha bali (sacrifice) at a temple or poll victory celebrations, there is probably no village in the mountains in Nepal where these occasions go without the music of Panche baja. The folk instrument’s music is the life of Damai village in the mountains.

Narsingh’s announcement, Tamke’s teasing, Damaha’s answers, and Sahanai’s sound all constitute the music of the mountains. All men in the mountains have a deep-rooted desire to play Panche baja during their marriage.

This instrument is all set to make the country famous by introducing Nepal’s folk music to the rest of the world. After a few months, the instrument will be displayed at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, to represent Nepali music.

All this has left Bhikshu Krishnaman euphoric. The Bhikshu, who left family life ten years ago opting for asceticism, is the proud person to have taken the instrument that far. As a token of appreciation, he has been honoured as an invitee at the formal inauguration of the instrument at the museum, three months later.

The museum has also informed him that a room will be made available for performing the instrument. Nepal’s ambassador for the United States, Jay Pratap Rana, will be one of those present on the occasion.

"This is a matter of pride for us," the Bhikshu told The Kathmandu Post, adding "Panche baja will be representing Nepal at such an important museum." Bhikshu Krishnaman took the instrument to the United States as early as 1987.

Various musical instruments from India have already secured a place for themselves in the museum that has a hefty entrance fee amounting to as much as Rs one thousand. Last year, Tibet’s musical instruments were also accepted at the museum.

According to the Bhikshu, the spot secured for Panche baja will also display a board containing the name of our country. The instrument will be kept inside a glass case. Among the Panche bajas that have made their way to the museum are Narsingh, Sehenai, Dhalki, Temke, Jhyali and Damaha. Another instrument called Karnal, a special musical instrument used on special occasions, has also found its way to the museum. All of the instruments are old, but usable.

70-year-old Krishnaman went to the United States for the first time in 1982, after bagging the first prize in an essay competition. At that time, he was the chief librarian at the American Library in Kathmandu. A visit to the museum disappointed him as he saw that there was no Nepali representation there. He talked to the curator about it.

After the curator showed interest in Nepali musical instruments, he traveled to Syangja, Pokhara and Gorkha on a lookout for the instruments. The following year, he sent the instruments to the museum. When he visited the museum this year, he was again disappointed to find that the instruments had not been displayed. He talked to the curator once again.

"Finally, he conceded that the instruments did not need to remain packed in a case any more," says the Bhikshu. "The display of the instrument in the museum will hopefully attract researchers to Nepal."

Workshop to discuss impact of climate changes kicks off

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KATHMANDU, March 5: The rise in temperature, which is being experienced at a rate of 0.06 degrees per year in Nepal, draws serious attention to the issue of impacts of climate change, said Adarsha Pokhrel, Director General, Department of Hydrology and Meteorology. The impact of climate change in the Himalayan region is yet to be studied in depth.

To discuss these impacts and strategies to prevent the hydrological regime changes like glacier lake outbursts, a two-day workshop on impact of climate change, is jointly organised today by the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DoHM) and Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC).

"There are evidences that substantiate the fact that glaciers are shrinking and the volume of water in the glaciers is increasing at an alarming rate said Pokhrel." In Nepal, Tsho Rolpa Glacier Lake is a recent example of this phenomenon."

"But, studies still need to be carried out to have a further understanding of our position in the scenario of climate change," he added. A temperature analysis carried out by Dr. Arun Shrestha of DoHM, over Nepal concludes that at an average, the temperature in Nepal is increasing by 0.06 degree Celsius per year, whereas it is 0.12 degree Celsius in the Himalayan frontier.

"This scenario is definitely going to bring a marked change in the hydrologic regime of the country and hence invites careful monitoring of the events," said Pokhrel.

The workshop will be significant in drawing baseline recommendations and guidelines for planners in necessary future actions. Also speaking on the occasion, Minister for Water Resources, Deepak Gyawali stressed the importance of understanding the impacts of climate change in a region such as Nepal.

"Recent studies on climate has shown many impacts, ranging from changes in the monsoon precipitation to meltingdown of Himalayan glaciers and disastrous outbreaks of glacier lakes, which are to be expected if this climate trend continues," said Prof. Dr. Dayananda Bajracharya, Vice-Chancellor, Royal Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (RONAST). "It is therefore important to identify effective adaptation and mitigative measures," said Bajracharya, adding, "In this context, the present workshop is highly relevant."

Similarly, Dr Madan Lal Shrestha, Deputy Director General, said that climate change is one of the important fields belonging to the scope of work of the DoHM. "The changes expected in the behaviours of the monsoonal system of this region with the climate change makes the job of the department much more challenging," said Shrestha.